Association Between Interferon-γ Levels in Mobilized Hematopoietic Stem Cell Products and Loss of Response After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction Cytokine-mediated interactions within the bone marrow microenvironment play a central role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). Although several cytokines have been investigated in peripheral blood and bone marrow, little is known about the prognostic significance of cytokine levels in the leukapheresis product used for autologous stem cell transplantation and their relationship with post-transplant treatment response. Materials and methods This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in peripheral hematopoietic stem cell (PHSC) leukapheresis products obtained from transplant-eligible MM patients. Cytokine levels were correlated with mobilized CD34+ cell yield, disease stage, treatment response, and clinical outcomes. Results The median baseline IFN-γ concentration was 826.4 pg/mL. Patients who achieved complete response (CR) three months after autologous transplantation had significantly lower IFN-γ levels in the leukapheresis product than those with very good partial response (VGPR) (674.75 ± 80.32 pg/mL vs. 939.6 ± 106.8 pg/mL, p = 0.02). Moreover, patients who experienced loss of response depth at three months post-transplant exhibited markedly higher IFN-γ levels (median: 1,133 pg/mL) than those whose response improved after transplantation (median: 485 pg/mL), characterizing high- and low-IFN-γ expression profiles, respectively. No significant associations were observed between TNF-α, TGF-β1, or IFN-γ levels and overall survival or progression-free survival. Likewise, TNF-α and TGF-β1 concentrations were not associated with post-transplant response. Conclusion Elevated IFN-γ levels in peripheral hematopoietic stem cell leukapheresis products are associated with early loss of response following autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma. These findings suggest that IFN-γ may represent a promising biomarker for early post transplant risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making.
Institution: Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná
Language: English
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223124922